Where to Buy Groceries in New York City: The Top 10 Cheapest Supermarket Chains
'02.03.2026'
ForumDaily New York
Grocery prices in New York City continue to rise. SecretNYC tells which supermarkets city residents can save the most in.
About 1,2 million residents of the Big Apple face food insecurity.
Finding more affordable prices is becoming more than just a way economical, but an urgent need.
According to a new study from 2026 Consumer Reports By choosing the right store, you can reduce your grocery costs by more than 33%.
How much does a grocery basket cost now?
The situation is confirmed by official figures.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices food prices increased by 25,5% between 2020 and 2024.
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Some items remain expensive:
- Coffee has increased in price by 20% over the past year;
- Red meat could grow another 9,4% this year;
- sweets - by 6,7%.
In 2025, eggs already reached their price peak of $8,15.
The price increase is particularly acute given the high cost of living in New York City.
The cheapest supermarkets
According to a Consumer Reports analysis, membership warehouse stores were the most profitable.
Even with the annual fee, the savings remain significant.
Costco Wholesale has prices 21,4% lower than Walmart; BJ's Wholesale Club has prices 21% lower than Walmart.
Annual membership costs:
- $65 – at Costco;
- $60 – at BJ's.
Among the shops without membership, the most accessible are:
- Lidl is about 8% cheaper than Walmart;
- Aldi is also about 8% cheaper than Walmart.
Top 10 cheapest chains
The top cheapest retailers include:
- Costco Wholesale
- BJ's Wholesale Club
- Lidl
- Aldi
- Winco
- Heb
- Walmart
- Market Basket
- Target
- Wegmans
The most expensive stores
Some networks turned out to be significantly more expensive.
Whole Foods Market topped the list of the most expensive, with prices nearly 40% higher than Walmart.
Trader Joe's's position was a surprise. On average, prices there nationwide are almost 25% higher than at Walmart when you buy a full basket.
Experts note that Trader Joe's is a good value for individual items and frozen meals, but isn't always suitable for a full week's worth of groceries.
Where to shop in all New York City boroughs
To maximize savings, the study recommends:
- For larger purchases, go to Costco in Astoria or Sunset Park;
- for everyday shopping - Aldi or Lidl;
- For shopping near home - Key Food and C-Town when using digital loyalty programs.
